Man faces prison for MPI fraud

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 23/9/2013 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PROSECUTORS want a seven-year prison term for a Winnipeg man they say was a leader in a complex and drawn-out fraud scheme that saw Manitoba Public Insurance bilked out of more than $620,000.

Quincy Adurogboye, 34, appeared for sentencing in Court of Queen's Bench on Monday after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of fraud over $5,000 and commission of fraud for the benefit of a criminal organization. He has no prior record.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 9.

"This is the most significant and unprecedented amount of fraud in this province's history vis-a-vis MPI," Crown attorney Sheila Leinburd told Justice Chris Martin. The potential risk exposure to MPI was more than $1 million, she said.

Police and special MPI investigators undertook Project Rollback in 2005 after learning dozens of used cars with hefty mileage were being purchased in Ontario for cheap, brought to Manitoba and altered to reflect greatly reduced odometer readings, which increased their value. Some Manitoba vehicles were also involved.

Suspects would then make phoney "sales" to each other, insure the vehicles at the increased price and then stage accidents and thefts in order to cash in through the claims process. Garage owners were also recruited to doctor vehicle safety evaluations, which were then presented to MPI, court heard.

Forty-seven people were identified as being involved. Only a handful remain before the courts, as the rest have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.